Kentucky real estate license renewal and CE requirements

Kentucky real estate licensees must renew every two years by March 31 of even-numbered years and complete 6 hours of Commission-approved continuing education (CE) each calendar year by December 31. Active licensees pay $130 per renewal cycle, and inactive licensees pay $120, with CE required only of those holding active status. The Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) administers both obligations through its eServices portal, and this guide covers the full renewal process, CE requirements, the Kentucky Core Course, post-license education, inactive status, and reinstatement after a missed deadline.

Kentucky real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines

Kentucky real estate licenses operate on a biennial renewal cycle, with all renewals due by March 31 in even-numbered years. The KREC License Renewals page^[1] states that all licensees must renew in March of each even-numbered year. Licensees who miss the deadline face automatic license cancellation and additional late fees.

CE follows a separate annual schedule. Active licensees must complete their annual CE by December 31 of each calendar year, independent of the biennial license renewal date. CE is due every year, while license renewal occurs every two years.

For the 2026 renewal cycle, the KREC homepage^[2] confirms that the eServices portal opened for renewals on February 3, 2026. KREC sends email notifications from ppc.krec@ky.gov when the renewal period begins.

The license renewal process in Kentucky

Licensees can complete renewal online via the KREC eServices system or mail Form 208^[3] with a check or money order payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. The KREC Fee Schedule^[4] notes that payment by phone is not permitted. Form 208 requires the licensee to affirm under penalty of perjury that all statements are true and complete.

Active licensees must secure errors and omissions (E&O) insurance before renewing. The KREC homepage^[2] directs licensees to contact RISC Insurance Services prior to renewal for coverage. Those covered by the Commission's group E&O policy pay the standard active renewal rate. Those with separate coverage must also submit Form 203 (Certification of Insurance Coverage) with the appropriate E&O fee. Inactive licensees have no E&O requirement.

Annual continuing education requirements for active licensees

All active Kentucky real estate licensees must complete annual Commission-approved CE to maintain their license in good standing. The requirement applies to every active licensee except those in their first two calendar years after initial licensure and those originally licensed in Kentucky before June 19, 1976, per the KREC Continuing Education page^[5] and the KY Office of Occupations and Professions^[6].

CE requirements are codified in 201 KAR 11:230. The KREC Continuing Education page^[5] specifies that CE courses must be sponsored or approved by the Commission.

Do brokers have different CE requirements?

No. Broker licensees face the same annual CE obligation as sales associates.

The Kentucky Core Course requirement

The Kentucky Core Course is a 6-hour CE course required of every active licensee once every 4 years. The KREC Core Course page^[7] states that the course covers federal, state, and common laws relating to real estate, and no other CE course substitutes for this requirement.

Taking the Core Course satisfies the full annual CE obligation for the year it is completed, according to the KREC License Renewals page^[1]. A licensee who completes the Core Course in a given year has met both the law and elective hour requirements for that year.

Post-license education for new sales associates

New sales associates licensed after January 1, 2016 must complete 48 hours of post-license education (PLE) within 2 years of affiliating with a principal broker. The KREC Post-License Education FAQ states that the 2-year clock begins when the licensee affiliates with a principal broker and cannot be paused, even if the licensee later places their license in escrow.

The 48 hours consist of 32 mandatory hours and 16 elective hours, according to the KREC PLE Details page^[8]. The mandatory topics and their hour allocations are:

PLE courses must be real estate specific, provide practical knowledge of the brokerage business, protect the public interest, and be practicum-based. New broker licensees are not required to complete PLE. Sales associates who received their license through the recognition process must still complete PLE.

Failure to complete the 48 hours by the 2-year deadline results in license cancellation. To reinstate, the licensee must complete all outstanding PLE requirements and pay the required fees.

Inactive licensees: renewal without CE

Inactive Kentucky real estate licensees must renew biennially but are not required to complete CE while their license remains inactive. 201 KAR 11:210 Section 12(5)^[9] states that a licensee whose license is inactive is not required to attend CE courses while the license stays inactive.

Inactive licensees pay a $120 renewal fee, per the KREC Fee Schedule^[4], and are not required to maintain E&O insurance. Placing a license on inactive status costs $10, and terminating inactive status costs $30.

To reactivate an inactive license, Section 10(4) of 201 KAR 11:210^[9] requires completing the Kentucky Core Course if it is overdue. If the license has been inactive for more than one education cycle, the licensee must also complete 6 hours of CE electives before reactivation.

Late renewal, license cancellation, and reinstatement

Kentucky licenses are cancelled automatically when a licensee fails to renew by the deadline. The KREC Fee Schedule^[4] imposes a $200 late renewal fee, and a separate $1,000 late fee applies for CE or Core Course non-compliance.

A cancelled license can be reinstated within 1 year of cancellation, according to the KREC Licensing Overview^[10]. Reinstatement requires completing any outstanding CE or PLE, paying all applicable renewal and late fees, and submitting a reactivation application. After 1 year, the licensee must requalify for licensure from the beginning.

KREC may also cancel a license for failure to complete education, failure to maintain E&O insurance, or failure to affiliate with a principal broker, per the KREC Licensing Overview^[10].

Checking your CE credits and compliance status

Licensees can verify their CE completions through the KREC eServices portal.

The KREC Fee Schedule^[4] charges $10 per copy for a license history certification, which provides a formal record of a licensee's education and license status.

CE course formats and approved providers

Kentucky CE real estate courses can be taken online or in person through KREC-approved providers. The KY Office of Occupations and Professions^[6] lists 45 approved CE providers, with the list updated monthly following the Commission's regular meeting. Approved provider categories include continuing education, post-license education, pre-licensing, core education, and broker curriculum.

Online real estate education courses give licensees flexibility to complete CE at their own pace. Licensees should retain completion certificates for their records after finishing each course.

Staying compliant: next steps

Log into the KREC eServices portal^[2] to verify your CE credits are current and your license status is active. Search the KREC-approved provider list^[6] for a course if your annual CE is not yet complete. Confirm your E&O insurance coverage with RISC Insurance Services before the next renewal window opens.